~~~~~
Meanwhile at Snapper Creek boat ramp, Gary and Arthur were going fishing together for the first time in twelve years.
‘Arthur, get the rope and tie it to the boat and hold it.’
‘Ok Gary, will this do?’
‘Fine. Now hold it steady whilst I take the car and trailer up to the car park.’
Gary Smith then drove his car with the boat trailer up to the car park and secured it, and then returned to this boat. Both he and Arthur then left the Snapper Creek boat ramp heading directly to the large delta facing the ocean. At the delta, a huge fishing area known to locals as a tuna fishing spot, Gary rigged up two rods with lures and cast the lures into the wake of the boat. On a slow trolling speed Gary and Arthur sat back and waited for a strike.
‘Ok Arthur, what is it you want to discuss that’s so sensitive we have to be out in the middle of the bay?’
‘Gary. I don’t know where to start. There are several things I need to get off my mind first. First - I need to talk about your mum and dad. They were the finest people this area has ever had in a religious way but they never went to church. My mum was telling me this and then it clicked. I thought - do I need to go to church?’
‘Arthur, get on with it. I haven’t cancelled a whole day for you to tell me that.’
‘Gary, it’s hard to describe what it is but I do know there is some reason to tell you that. OK, the second thing is I have resigned from the Oligarch Party. I want to sign up with your mob but not as a LGBT person. I just want to help in some way.’
‘Arthur. Are you telling me you’re now a convert to the new in politics?’
‘Gary, go easy mate.’
“Oh, you’re now calling me mate. Come off it Arthur, don’t come the raw prawn on me. Look, I am busy and I did this for you on one condition. You said it was about life or death. Go and make a declaration on TV. Get a stringer and give them some kudos too for some thought provoking questions. Set up a national campaign for everyone to believe your rubbish. Arthur, what exactly are you going on about?’
‘Look. I‘ve changed and I don’t know why or what did it. I do realise some of the things that your government have initiated are things we should have done when we were in government. . . . and . . . . and . . . . I won’t rest until I get this off my chest. I deliberately lied to you and your friends. I lied when I was a government worker, I lied many times to protect the country. The people can’t handle the truth Gary. It is a democracy but the public couldn’t handle it when our government told them the truth.’
‘So? Arthur, the reason you can’t tell the truth is because of certain fibs told about political donations by certain corporations and the old stories of party faithful. Get to the bottom of this Arthur or we go straight back to the boat ramp.’
‘Gary, I had an erection recently and I wasn’t thinking of a woman.’
‘Oh. So now we are a paid up member of the LGBT.. or is it.... an erect member?’
‘I don’t know. I have no idea how it happened. It just did. And I went to another town and spoke with the priest there and I can’t even say what he said. Gary, how is it the new government is getting more support from international bankers and corporations? You people have changed the tax structure for corporations and they love it. We were told they would leave the country and go elsewhere if we raised corporate taxation. What is happening Gary? I want to remain in politics but all these changes are confusing things.’
‘Arthur, all this could have been discussed over a beer in my back yard. Why are we out here fishing whilst you prattle on?’
‘Gary, tell me. Can there be any way I can join your political party. I don’t want to be associated with the church any more. I don’t want to be part of what some people call ‘influenced decisions by certain people wanting favours’. I want to come clean Gary, and I want to do it before I die.’
‘All right then. How do you like the idea if we abandon the word democracy and replace it with another word..... whatever that word is I don’t know but remember this. . . . . up to the 15th century feudalism seemed to work.... King, then his side kicks known as knights and the clergy, then below them in rank came the peasants. Back before all this was a form of government ran by the people. The Greek form of democracy failed. People now say.... “We have a democracy.” So what does democracy mean to you Arthur?’
‘What we had was a democracy.’
‘And what we now have is a democracy but different to your democracy. Japan has a democracy but the country is in effect run by bureaucrats. But they still have a democracy. Arthur, if I asked you to write a preamble to prepare for legislation to tax all religious organisations including the big three in churches. Would you write the pre-wording for the constitutional lawyers to look at? Would you go as far as banning all political advertising - any political advertising? We are doing this right now Arthur. And, would you be prepared to legislate for a TV channel devoted for political debates and discussions and the public can select the subject being debated if they have 5,000 signatures for that subject with the people debating against politicians? Organised debates on TV. We are preparing this now Arthur. And would you go as far as asking every person in the country to declare their hidden assets? This last one is going to get one family because our government has already written the legislation for all overseas companies declare their income. No cover ups. Nothing hid in Swiss bank accounts or anywhere else. We have had several advanced questions sent to us for our embassies overseas to respond to favourably. Other countries are following us Arthur. Honesty is becoming fashionable. And Arthur, tell me one thing. What is it with you and a certain dressmaker that I go to? Are you having an affair with her? Arthur, tell the truth.’
‘I go to the dressmaker to have my pants altered. I buy off the rack trousers and have the legs altered. Why?’
‘Just asking Arthur. Just asking. And another question Arthur. Why is it you were going into the priesthood but changed your mind? I know you were thinking of the priesthood back when you were a teenager. Was it the same priest?’
‘Yes, it was.’
‘So, did it have any effect on you?’
‘Yes but I went to a psychiatrist and later a psychologist and I take a few pills every now and then but otherwise I am ok.’
‘So – Arthur, if you want to, why don’t you go down to Sydney or Melbourne and wait outside a train station with a sign saying..... “Unemployed politician. All donations grateful.” Do that Arthur in spite of your generous retirement plan you now live off. Arthur, at your age I think being remorseful is a bit of an insult. I suggest you find a new way of living. A way of living so that you’re not hanging onto all the garbage you’ve lived by. People don’t need religion. Religious fanatics tell people they need religion. According to the last Census, we have the least amount of people in Null who go to a church to worship but we also have the highest per capita of people who believe in a god. And I do understand each person’s god is different to yours Arthur. Work that one out Arthur. Yes we have some churches and some followers of them but the majority are independent believers in a god. Arthur, it is time for this country to let go of old wives tales. Anything which is like the Greek Myths. Fables told to influence and control. All myths were invented fairytales and so was your religion Arthur. We live in the here and now. It is time to let go of past make-believe. We need a system that works for our present day needs. Reel the lines in Arthur. I’ve heard enough. Let’s get going back to Null and I will get back to work. I appreciate what you have told me Arthur. It won’t go any further than me but you had better change your behaviour patterns if you want me to believe anything you said.’
Gary Smith stood at the controls as he sped along the water returning to the boat ramp. Arthur sat facing the stern. Sadness crept over Arthur as he thought about what he has to admit if he is to do what he wants from life after talking to Gary. Arthur slowly got off the boat and waited for Gary to get the trailer and drive home. Arthur we
nt to his car and turned and looked up towards Rich Bitch Hill and thought about the way he had conducted himself whilst a federal member of parliament – ‘good apples and bad apples,’ Arthur thought, ‘and I was a bad apple - rotten to the core and I can’t do a thing about it now.’
Arthur then drove to New Brunswick, found a Bottle Shop, and bought a large bottle of whisky. He returned home to find his wife, on the back verandah, entertaining the committee of the local women’s tennis club.
“Good afternoon all,” Arthur said.
Arthur then went into his private study and reached for an empty glass.